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Top 15 Colleges for B Students in 2023

Are you a “B” student who wonders about what colleges you can get into? We have good news for you! Having a “B” average will not prevent you from attending a solid school that fits your unique self. In the guide below, we discuss how grades factor into college admissions and offer some tips to improve your admission chances. We also compiled a sampling of colleges that welcome “B” students. Let’s get started!

Jump ahead to…

• What is a B student?
• Do grades matter for college admissions?
• Factors that influence admission for B students
• How a B student could improve their chances of admission
• How this list of colleges for B students was created
• Top 15 colleges for B students
• Safety, match, and reach schools for B students
• Next steps for students
• Frequently asked questions about colleges for B students

First, what is a “B” student?

For most people, having a “B” average means that they have a 3.0 GPA. Whether a student is a true “B” average depends on a number of factors, including how the GPA was calculated (weighted or unweighted?). Make sure that you fully understand what your GPA is, exactly how your school calculates it, and why it matters. Our Scholarships360 GPA guide is a great place to start. 

Related: Do colleges use weighted or unweighted GPAs?

Do grades matter for college admissions? 

Yes. Grades are one of the most important factors that colleges consider when determining whether to admit students. In addition to grades, colleges want to see that students are challenging themselves by taking the most rigorous courses that they qualify for. In other words, it is valuable for colleges to see that you are earning good grades in hard classes. 

Therefore, if you have any extra time before college applications are due, spend that time trying to improve your grades as much as you can. However, if you truly are a B student working to your capacity, you can still attend a good college. Therefore, do not stress out over your grades, and instead, use that energy to put your best self forward! 

Factors that influence admission for B students

Colleges take many factors into consideration when considering whether or not to admit a student. Some of these factors include: 

• Grades
• AP or IB classes
• Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) 
• Extracurriculars
• Recommendations
• Supplemental essays

As you can see, there are ways to compensate for lower grades by overachieving in these other areas. Let’s take a look at doable ways to make the most of your application. 

How a B student could improve their chances of admission

Create a SAT or ACT study plan

By improving your standardized test scores, you can increase your chances of being admitted to your college of choice. Give yourself plenty of time to study, take practice tests, and retake the SAT or ACT if need be. There are a number of free SAT tests, so no excuses! 

Related: How to improve your SAT score in 6 steps

Write a strong supplemental essay

Supplemental essays can be the key to admission to a good college. Supplemental essays allow you to reveal things about yourself besides just numbers such as GPA or ACT scores. Rather, you can detail what makes you who you are and your aspirations for your future. 

To write a stellar supplemental essay, make sure you do your research, do not repeat yourself, and don’t forget to look it over for silly mistakes. Remember, a good supplemental essay can be the difference between an acceptance or rejection letter, so try your best! 

Related: Supplemental essays: how important are they? 

Participate in extracurricular activities

Participating in extracurricular activities will make your college application well-rounded. It demonstrates that you can manage your time participating in other activities while still being able to succeed academically.  

Related: What are extracurricular activities and why do they matter?

How this list of colleges for B students was created

This following list of top accredited colleges and universities for B students was created by researching and reviewing various ranking lists, including PrepScholar, US News, and Niche. Most of the colleges/universities on this list are below a 3.75. We included a variety of public and private schools of various sizes located across the United States. 

Top 15 colleges for B students

Auburn University

Located in Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University is a large public school with nearly 25,000 undergraduate students. Business Administration, Management and Operations, General Biology, Finance and Financial Management Services, Marketing, and 

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences are the top five fields of undergraduate study. 

• Average GPA: 3.86
• Average SAT: 1240
• Average ACT: 25-31
• Acceptance rate: 85%

Creighton University

Creighton University, located in Omaha, Nebraska, has 4,500 undergraduates students. The school is a private university that is currently test-optional. The top five fields of undergraduate study at Creighton are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Finance and Financial Management Services, General Biology, Marketing, and Research and Experimental Psychology

• Average GPA: 3.74
• Average SAT: N/A
• Average ACT: N/A
• Acceptance rate: 64%

Fordham University

Fordham University is a private Jesuit Catholic university located in the Bronx, New York. Fordham’s undergraduate student body has roughly 10,000 students. The top undergraduate fields of study at Fordham are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Economics, Communication and Media Studies, Finance and Financial Management Services, and General Psychology.

• Average GPA: 3.64
• Average SAT: 1320
• Average ACT: 27-32
• Acceptance rate: 53%

Indiana University, Bloomington

The city of Bloomington, Indiana is home to Indiana University and its 32,600 undergraduate students. Business/Commerce, Public Administration, Computer and Information Sciences, Communication and Media Studies, and Health and Physical Education/Fitness are the top fields of undergraduate study at IUB. 

• Average GPA: 3.73
• Average SAT: 1235
• Average ACT: 24-31
• Acceptance rate: 80%.

Also see: What looks good on a college application?

Michigan State University

Located in East Lansing, Michigan, MSU is a large public university with  38,000+ undergraduate students. The top fields of undergraduate study at Michigan State U are Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, Communication and Media Studies, and Health and Physical Education/Fitness. 

• Average GPA: 3.75
• Average SAT: 1200
• Average ACT: 23-29
• Acceptance rate: 76%

Muhlenberg College

Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg is a small, private liberal arts college with roughly 2,000 undergraduate students. Test optional since 1996, Muhlenberg College is well known for its Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program. Other top fields of study include Business Administration, Management and Operations, Communication and Media Studies, Psychology, and Finance and Financial Management Services. 

• Average GPA: 3.44
• Average SAT: 1285
• Average ACT: 26-31
• Acceptance rate: 62%

Providence College

Named for its home city of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence College is a private Roman Catholic school with roughly 4,300 undergraduate students. The top five fields of undergraduate study at Providence are Finance and Financial Management Services, Marketing, Biology, Psychology, and Business Administration, Management and Operations.

• Average GPA: 3.48
• Average SAT: 1285
• Average ACT: 27-31
• Acceptance rate: 54%

Purdue University- Main Campus

Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue University flagship campus has nearly 36,000 undergraduate students. At this public university, the top five fields of study at the undergraduate level are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration, Management and Operations, and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. 

• Average GPA: 3.69
• Average SAT: 1295
• Average ACT: 25-33
• Acceptance rate: 67%

Rollins College

Located in sunny suburban Winter Park, Florida, Rollins College is a small private school of roughly 2,500 undergraduate students. Ahead of the trend, Rollins College has been a test optional college for fifteen years. The most popular fields of study are Communication and Media Studies, Business/Commerce, Business Administration, Management and Operations, International Business, and Psychology. 

• Average GPA: 3.4
• Average SAT: N/A
• Average ACT: N/A
• Acceptance rate: 61%

Rutgers University New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey is home to the Rutgers University flagship campus. The nearly 36,000 undergraduates lean towards Human Resources Management and Services, Psychology, Computer and Information Sciences, Biology, and Public Health as the top five fields of study. 

• Average GPA: 3.0
• Average SAT: 1295
• Average ACT: 25-32
• Acceptance rate: 67%

Texas Christian University

Located in the city of Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a mid-size school of roughly 10,000 undergraduates. This private non-profit Christian university’s top majors are found in the nursing fields, with Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing topping the list. Finance and Financial Management Services, Communication and Media Studies, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, and Economics make up the top five fields of study.

• Average GPA: 3.64
• Average SAT: 1215
• Average ACT: 25-31
• Acceptance rate: 48%

University of Colorado, Boulder

Nearly 30,000 undergraduates attend the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO.  

The top five fields of undergraduate study at the U of Colorado are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, and Computer Science. 

• Average GPA: 3.66
• Average SAT: 1250
• Average ACT: 25-31
• Acceptance rate: 84%

University of Iowa

Located in Iowa City, the University of Iowa is a large public school with about 22,000 undergraduates. The top fields of study that students gravitate  to are Health and Physical Education/Fitness, Finance and Financial Management Services, Psychology, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, and Business Administration, Management and Operations. 

• Average GPA: 3.76
• Average SAT: 1210
• Average ACT: 22-29
• Acceptance rate: 84%

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon is home to the University of Oregon, a public institution with an enrollment of roughly 18,000 undergraduate students. The most popular fields of undergraduate study include Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Business and Commerce, Economics, Social Sciences, and Psychology. 

• Average GPA: 3.59
• Average SAT: 1190
• Average ACT: 22-29
• Acceptance rate: 84%

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT is home to the University of Utah. The nearly 24,000 undergraduates’ most popular fields of study are Psychology, Communication and Media Studies, Business Administration, Management and Operations, Health and Physical Education/Fitness, and Economics. 

• Average GPA: 3.66
• Average SAT: 1240
• Average ACT: 22-29
• Acceptance rate: 79%

Safety, match, and reach schools for B students

Our list shares a sampling of schools in the mid to upper “B” range. The college admissions process might result in a B student considering certain schools as either safety, match, or reach schools. Make sure that you conduct your own research to find the best range of schools for your particular grades and needs. 

Next steps for students

Once you determine that a particular “B” friendly school might be a good fit for you, try scheduling a tour to get the full experience of the campus and amenities the school offers. If you can’t make an in-person visit, try taking one of the virtual tours that most schools now offer!

Remember, colleges consider many factors when deciding who they should admit or reject. There are many more colleges for B students out there than meet the eye! Therefore, work on strengthening all aspects of your application in order to improve your chances of admission. We encourage you to look beyond this list in order to discover all of the colleges that you can attend as a B student!

Also see: An insider’s guide into what goes on in a college admissions office

Frequently asked questions about colleges for B students

Can B students get scholarships?

Yes! When it comes to applying for scholarships, there are plenty of opportunities for B students. It’s true that purely GPA based scholarships might be more competitive to earn for B students, However, scholarships for the arts, for a particular major/interest, or for certain demographics with financial need are out there just waiting for your application!

Can high test scores make up for grades? 

The answer depends on the college or university one is applying to. Large public schools are typically more “numbers driven” in regard to admissions. Therefore, if you can increase your standardized test scores (and maybe do a little explaining about your grades), your chances of being admitted to your college of choice will most likely increase. For smaller schools with a more holistic approach to admissions it depends entirely on the school. 

Do B students qualify for FAFSA aid?

The answer is an unequivocal yes! In short, all college bound high school students are eligible to apply for FAFSA aid. The FAFSA does require that students maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. once they are enrolled in college.